From 140cc pit bike to 450f??

erickdj

Ok just got back. Rode both the WR450 was fine, 250 was ass, had to wind it out way more. I can touch with both feet to the ground "tippy toes" so that part was fine too. I could pick up both bikes. This one was rejetted and titanium exhaust which I will put back to stock for now. I was told by the 250 guy in Canada there is no throttle stop or grey wire that it was only a US thing....

In the end I think because of the Italian factor I was fine, hahaha. I just have to be more careful with it, and like buddy said just use my head.

But man the wr450 is a nice ****ing bike for sure!!!

so, did you buy the 450? I think the grey wire and throttle stop are on canadian bikes as well. any canadians know about this?

HollywoodMX

so, did you buy the 450? I think the grey wire and throttle stop are on canadian bikes as well. any canadians know about this?

Ya I would like that confimed as well. I looked for the grey wire and could not find it.

Ya Im picking it up tomorrow morning, going riding sunday. My buddy who's been riding forever fell in love with the bike, he said if I didnt buy he would!! Also the titanium exhaust with such large CC bike sounds suuuuuuper sweet.

JSanfilippo

Ok just got back. Rode both the WR450 was fine, 250 was ass, had to wind it out way more. I can touch with both feet to the ground "tippy toes" so that part was fine too. I could pick up both bikes. This one was rejetted and titanium exhaust which I will put back to stock for now. I was told by the 250 guy in Canada there is no throttle stop or grey wire that it was only a US thing....

In the end I think because of the Italian factor I was fine, hahaha. I just have to be more careful with it, and like buddy said just use my head.

But man the wr450 is a nice ****ing bike for sure!!!

Enjoy!! On the street the power seems fine but in the woods, its a totally different deal. It'll take some time to get used to the power but once you do its nice to know you have so much on reserve.

HollywoodMX

I still don't understand what being of Italian origin has to do with buying a bike:confused:

Italians are typically shorter, leaner, body type but through ancestry are stronger than the average person of the same dimensions, due to stubborness and will power.....Like a mechanic loosening a bolt thats too tight on a car, need's "Italian power" to loosen..... Never heard that? May be its more of a mechanic thing I guess.

kevinwr450f

loaf_1

I was 11 and bought my first dirt bike, a 82 honda XL185, Heavy gutless pig of a bike but served as a cheap learner, Later bought a Yz250 at the age of 13 and had my fair share of crashes:p im now 15 and riding a DR650 with no troubles whatsoever and im only about 5'7 200 pounds, Just take your time learning how the bike works and you should be fine:prof: , Also you being Italian you shoulda went out and bought a KTM super Duke 990:ride:

HollywoodMX

I was 11 and bought my first dirt bike, a 82 honda XL185, Heavy gutless pig of a bike but served as a cheap learner, Later bought a Yz250 at the age of 13 and had my fair share of crashes:p im now 15 and riding a DR650 with no troubles whatsoever and im only about 5'7 200 pounds, Just take your time learning how the bike works and you should be fine:prof: , Also you being Italian you shoulda went out and bought a KTM super Duke 990:ride:

Hahaha, I may be italian but I'm not insane!!!

In my previous posts I forgot to mention 1 thing. I only rode my pitbike 5 times before switching the to the wr450!! Doh!

Todays riding verdict: I got schooled. For starters this trail was teh hardest one I have been on yet. On another trail that I have been on before would have been less of an issue for sure. Now, surprisingly the power of the bike was not the hardest part, the weight/balance and seat hight was more of a factor. Despite getting owned I never got hurt, and the bike broke a trail gaurd. It's like it was said earlier you just have to use you head with the throttle.

Is there other bike out there that would have been a better started bike? You bet. Was it impossible, no. The 450 TQ saved me a few times going up the hills, where a 2 smoke would have made me dump it for not going fast enough.

Now I need to reasearch on those lowering links. Due to my light weight I wont have an issue bottoming out, plus I dont rock jumps yet. The lowing of the bike will be key to my learning and safety for the next little while till I get used to riding and the bike more.

erickdj

In my previous posts I forgot to mention 1 thing. I only rode my pitbike 5 times before switching the to the wr450!! Doh!

Todays riding verdict: I got schooled. For starters this trail was teh hardest one I have been on yet. On another trail that I have been on before would have been less of an issue for sure. Now, surprisingly the power of the bike was not the hardest part, the weight/balance and seat hight was more of a factor. Despite getting owned I never got hurt, and the bike broke a trail gaurd. It's like it was said earlier you just have to use you head with the throttle.

Is there other bike out there that would have been a better started bike? You bet. Was it impossible, no. The 450 TQ saved me a few times going up the hills, where a 2 smoke would have made me dump it for not going fast enough.

Now I need to reasearch on those lowering links. Due to my light weight I wont have an issue bottoming out, plus I dont rock jumps yet. The lowing of the bike will be key to my learning and safety for the next little while till I get used to riding and the bike more.

Well, looks like the worst part is over, now you have been officially introduced to the bike. Don't sweat it with lowering the bike, remember I'm 5'5" and I have not lowered the bike nor am I going to. Give it time, you will get used to the bike height. We all get the idea to lower the bike at some point, but give it time and you'll forget about it. Just yesterday I realized that it would have been a mistake to lower the bike, I would have lost some ground clearance that I really needed on some trails I rode yesterday. Like I said, give it time and you'll change your mind about a lot of things as you start to get comfortable with the bike. If you made it through the first day the rest will be easier.

loaf_1

Originally Posted by loaf_1 I was 11 and bought my first dirt bike, a 82 honda XL185, Heavy gutless pig of a bike but served as a cheap learner, Later bought a Yz250 at the age of 13 and had my fair share of crashes im now 15 and riding a DR650 with no troubles whatsoever and im only about 5'7 200 pounds, Just take your time learning how the bike works and you should be fine , Also you being Italian you shoulda went out and bought a KTM super Duke 990

drtbk4ever

Todays riding verdict: I got schooled. For starters this trail was teh hardest one I have been on yet. On another trail that I have been on before would have been less of an issue for sure. Now, surprisingly the power of the bike was not the hardest part, the weight/balance and seat hight was more of a factor.

I was in the same situation as you, but did have over 5 years of riding experience (but that was 25 years ago). I did what you did, jumped in with both feet and bought an 04 WR450 in the spring of 2006.

I think you bought the right bike, but you will need a lot of seat time. So take it easy, especially for the rest of this riding season. My first REAL ride on my 450 (with very experienced riders) just about killed me. Half way through the ride I was ready to sell the bike. The power isn't the issue, it's the weight and size of the bike that will wear you out.

The key is to have the balls to say to your riding buddies, "I'm not going to try that, at least not until I get more experience on the bike".

Over the winter I suggest you work on building up your flexibility and strength. I worked on my upper body and it made a world of difference. Especially when trying to get the bike out of the muskeg.

HollywoodMX

I was in the same situation as you, but did have over 5 years of riding experience (but that was 25 years ago). I did what you did, jumped in with both feet and bought an 04 WR450 in the spring of 2006.

I think you bought the right bike, but you will need a lot of seat time. So take it easy, especially for the rest of this riding season. My first REAL ride on my 450 (with very experienced riders) just about killed me. Half way through the ride I was ready to sell the bike. The power isn't the issue, it's the weight and size of the bike that will wear you out.

The key is to have the balls to say to your riding buddies, "I'm not going to try that, at least not until I get more experience on the bike".

Over the winter I suggest you work on building up your flexibility and strength. I worked on my upper body and it made a world of difference. Especially when trying to get the bike out of the muskeg.

So take every chance you can get to ride that bike.

Its funny that you said all of this, as it is pretty much exactly what i went through. There was a really steep shale down hill that I was scared about going down. And for 1 moment I thought about selling the bike. My plan is to work out a little over the winter and I ordered the lowing kit. I plan on hitting the moto cross track too to gain some ride time before the season ends, I'll just stay away from the expert track and hang out with the 13 year olds on the intermediate track, hahaha. But your right its the top heavy weight and the size of the bike that owned me bad.

I am confident I can tame the beast! Cause its a really nice bike, and I like it.

juliman

hey guys this thread is a dinosaur, but BUMP lol, anyway, i had a 125cc chinese pitbike and had it super modded out, then it forked up AGAIN ( chinese GRRRRRR) so i gave it to my cousins, now i am looking at a 1998 wr400 in pretty good condition,for not too much,( plus i gotta pay my parents back =) i know how to ride a bike and i do all my own mechanic work etc and im quite mature for my age (15)

so can any one tell me if the 1998 wr400 is too much of a bike considering writing above

i plan on easing into it slowly like you guys said, and not be silly, also i plan on letting only people i explicitlytrust and know ride it, ( if at all) and tell them that if you crash it and break a rad then U pay for it

ok ill stop raving on now but thoughts are appreciated

edit, the chinese pitbike is now tiny for me ( the seat is at my knees LOL)